Destinations HD Travel Blog

Spotlight on Uniworld River Cruises

I have been planning a few river cruises lately and I always get so excited about these trips. :) Earlier in the year I spotlighted AmaWaterways River Cruises. This month I'd like to spotlight Uniworld River Cruises. This amazing company offers river cruises on upscale, boutique vessels to some of the world's most entrancing destinations with an all-inclusive experience. You'll travel easily between stops in staterooms with terrific perspectives of the passing landscape, while the transportation details are taken care of for you.

Just a few of the perks you'll enjoy while cruising with Uniworld include:

Lodging in a lovely stateroom. Ships are decorated per destination you are traveling to emerge you in local familiarity.

Unlimited beverages like beer, wine, espressos, teas and sodas; they even include many premium spirits such as Grey Goose and Crown Royal!

All meals are included and the chefs are dedicated to providing farm-to-table culinary experiences so you know you will receive the freshest foods sourced from regional farms, farmers’ markets and artisan producers, to ensure every meal embodies the unique character of each region and season.

Entertainment on board and complimentary excursions at each port

Well-equipped on-board fitness center and wellness classes are included with your cruise ticket

Bicycles and Nordic walking sticks are available for onshore use at each port

Wi-Fi on board

Because the boats are smaller you'll be able to get to ports not available to large cruise lines. Sea sickness is generally less frequent because you'll almost always be able to see land and you'll never have one of those dreaded “at sea” days.

With each port you'll dock smack dab in the heart of the activity. Instead of transfer boats taking you to and from the ship causing you to miss upwards of an hour or more of shore time, in most cases you'll step right off the boat and into your port of call. Because of this you'll enjoy a more casual pace without large crowds in your way.

Not to get morbid on you, but let's talk about dying for just a moment. Recently, a few acquaintances have gone through unexpected deaths in their life, which got us all thinking about how we need to live and enjoy our life now. One of the most common regrets among people when they fall ill is that they didn't travel more.

For just a moment, I want you to really think about this question: How many times have you said to yourself “I want to travel to (fill in the blank)” only to follow it up with “I can't afford it” or “Maybe someday”? What if someday never comes? There is a saying going around social media right now that goes something like this “It is better to have a lifetime of memories, than one filled with regrets.”

Going on frequent vacations may strike you as a self-indulgence, but the truth is by not traveling you are doing yourself a disservice. People who travel have a better overall sense of well-being, are more productive at work, enjoy better relationships, have less stress and are more satisfied with their lives than those who don't travel.

It may feel like too expensive of an investment, but this is also a gross inaccuracy that has kept far too many individuals from traveling. Yes, when American Express released the statistic that the average vacation for a family of four costs just over $4,600 that was a true statement, but it doesn't have to be. In fact, there are several vacations you can take for far less than that. Even for trips further away that cost higher, there are ways to make your vacation more affordable. Here are just two:

Create a savings plan and go on one lower cost vacation close by and one bigger vacation a year. If you put aside just $100 a week that's $5,200 a year! Check out this awesome post on how to get an extra $100 fast! You could have a semi-luxurious vacation in the winter and go camping in the summer inexpensively or have a “staycation” in the Spring and a no-holds barred trip in the fall.

Get a credit card that earns you travel. The trick with this one? ALWAYS pay off your balance, and do so twice a month. Credit card companies report your debt to income ratio at the time of your statement and if you always have it maxed out when it's reported you will always look like you have debt. Pay it off twice a month to bypass this, earn loads of free travel and never hurt your credit score. Win-win all the way around.

Traveling Gives You So Much

When you travel more you always have something to look forward to, something to motivate you to work for. This gives your work a sense of purpose that can make any job more pleasurable.

Achieving the goal of going on a trip is a great confidence booster because every trip you take proves to you that you can make a plan, take action and achieve your dreams.

You'll learn more about culture than any textbook can teach you.

Finally, and this may be the most important reason to travel more: You'll get the break from the everyday craziness to recharge your physical and mental batteries. The body can only take so much before it needs a break. Why not schedule your break and make traveling a priority in your life today?